Machine for dispensing and moistening gummed tape



H. A. STONE.

MACHI'NE FOR DISPENSING AND MOkSTENING GUMMED TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.7.1920. RENEWED SEPT. 1, 1922.

Lfil 65 Patented Oct. 109, 1922,

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

H. A. STONE.

MACHINE FOR DISPENSING AND MOISTENING GUWIMED TAPE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1920. RENEWED SEPT. 1. I922.

L60 Patented Oct. W. 1922.

2 $HEETSSHEET 2.

All

All

HJENW A. STUNE, 01F CAMBRIDGE, IllEASSAGHUfilETUl.

MACHINE FUR DISP SING AND IllEUJISIIEENING' GUJMEAAEEJD TE.

Application filed April 7, 1920, rial Ito. 371M911.

To all whom z'tmay concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY A. STONE, a citizen 'of the United States,residing at Cambrid e, in the county of Middlesex and State ofassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Machine for Dispensing andMoistening Gumrned Tape, of which the following is a specification,reference bein had to the accompanying two sheets of rawings formingpart thereof.

My invention relates to machines for dispensing and moistening gummedtape, which is used more particularly for sealing packages, cartons andthe like.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple, reliable,self-contained, and durable machine that is free from complicatedmechanism, is inexpensive to manufacture, and is easy to manipulate andhandle. The machine is designed to house therein the supply-roll ofgummed tape, which may be withdrawn from the machine in strips ofdesired lengths and severed from the supplyroll as and when required.The tape, while being thus withdrawn from the machine, is brought intoengagement with a wetting roller which moistens the gummed surfacethereof and prepares and conditions the same for immediate use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a yieldable tape-grippingmeans which frictionally engages the free end of the tape therebetweenand angularly directs the same onto the wetting roller of the device ata point rearward and below the highest element thereof for effecting ahugging feature for the tape in relation to the wetting roller, wherebythe withdrawal of the tape from the machine frictionally rotates thewetting roller "which feeds the moistening liquor to and forces the sameto become impregnated into the gummed surface of the tape for renderingthe tape .ready for immediate use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a frictional and yieldinggripping means for the tape, preferably at the cutting section of themachine, whereby the tape is required to be withdrawn from the machineunder tenslon; and at the same time provides a quick release to the tapeheld thereby, when required, for advancing and freeing the leading endof the tape to afford the operator a portion. on which to grip and takehold of the tape to withdraw same from the machine.

Another object of the invention is to pro- Renewed September 1, 1922.Aerial Ito; MAMA.v

vide a frictional gripping feature to the machine for the tape fedtherethrough, which comprises a fixed and stationary cutter memberpositioned in the rear ofthe wetting roller and having the hiife edgethereof located below and in the rear of the top element of the roller;and a spring-held and hinged table member which is inclined downwardtowards said cutter member, terminating below same, and frictionallyheld thereagainst, whereby the tape .is allowedto pass therebetween andunder tension along the lines disclosed in my co-pending application forcombined tape guiding and cutting device for gummed tape dispensing andmoistening machines, filed April 7, 1920, Serial No. 371,892.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for self-centeringthe supplyroll therein and for retaining the same an upright andoperative position in the machine. I

Still another object of the invention is to provide a wetting rollermechanism which is supplied with a gravity-held, inclined scraper foruniformly spreading the liquor over said roller and allowing the surplusto drain and flow back into the liquor tank.

To these as well as other ends myinvention consists of the novelfeatures of construction, combination and arrangement of parts describedin the following specification, and particularly pointed out in thesubjoined claims.

The terms employed herein are used in the eneric and descriptive senseto designate t e elements illustrated, and are therefore not primarilyintended as terms of limitation. i

In order to illustrate my invention, I have shown in the accompanyingtwo sheets of drawings an embodiment thereof, wherein: I

F ig. 1 represents a fragmentary, perspective view of my tape dispensingand moistenin device.

ig. 2 represents a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view taken throughthe device ,shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a sectional view taken on line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 represents substantially'a part of the same view as Fig. 2, butshows the yield 'ing tape gripping table of the device open for allowingthe free/end of the tape to be advanced for afi'ording the operator ameans of taking hold of the tape for withdrawing same from the machine.

Fig. 5 represents a plan view of the wettin roller trough mechanism ofthe device.

ig. 6 represents a sectional-view taken substantially (in line 6-6 onFig. 2.

Fig. 7 represents the same view as Fig. 2, but shows the wetting troughmechanism of the device removed therefrom.

Fig. 8 represents a sectional view taken on line 8-8 on Fig. 7 showinthe tape frictionally held between the stationary cutter member and theyieldable tape plate of the device.

Fig. 9 represents a sectional view taken on line 99 on Fig. 2.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of thedrawing.

The numeral 10 represents a casing member which comprises the sides 11and 12 and the front and rear ends 13 and 14, respectively. Said casingmember may be made of any suitable material and may be cast integral toform a unit casing, or may be suitably form a un1t casing, according asma be desired. The drawing shows a divide casing parted at 15 (Fig. 1)and made up in two parts which are secured together by the distributedcoupling screws 16 and form the unit casing, as shown. The casing member10 is designed to set on a counter, bench or table, according as thecase may be and is provided with suitable screw holes 17 (Fig. 2)positioned at convenient places for accommodating screws to permanentlysecure the machine to the counter, bench or table.

The casing member 10 is preferably designed with. the relatively deeptape well 18, which is preferably open at the top 19 andcovered with thecover-plate 20, which may be hinged to the rear of the casing 10 at 21,as shown, or otherwise set in position with the casing Thetape-roll-well 18 is provided with the forward partition wall 22, whichpreferably terminates in an arced portion 23 at the top thereof, whichfrictionally supports the tape T (in'open form) as the tape is beingunwound from the roll R. The latter tape roll is supported in the wellin upright position, as shown in Fig. 2,

and bears on the roll supporting and center ing planes 24 which areangularly disposed towards each other and positioned at the bottom ofthe well 18. Said planes are preferably made integralwith the casing"and serve to center the roll R therein for retaining the same inupright position, and rovide a four-point suspension for the roll on theside edges thereof, as will be understood (seeFig. 9,) because oftheangular disposition of said planes; thus yielding a frictionalsupport to said roll, which prevents the same from unwinding, unlessforcedJto do so by the pull of the operator on divided and boltedtogether to the tape, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. Theoutlet of the well 18 is preferably formed between said rounded wallsection 23 and the forward end 25 of the cover-plate 20, whichfrictionally bears against and rests on the tape passing therebetween,as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, for frictionally holding back the tape at theoutlet of the well 18.

26 represents the tape plate of the machine which is preferably hingedat 27 near the tape-well-outlet and inclined down wardly towards thefront end 13 of the machine and supported against the fixed cuttermember 28 by the expansion springs 29 which rest on the fixed lugs 30,preferably provided therefor on the sides of the casing, as shown inFig. 8; said lugs 30 being preferably rovided with spring studs 31 whichcenter t e springs 29 thereon and terminate at a oint below the ta plate26 for limiting the opening of saitl tape plate 26 in relation to thefixed cutter member 28, as shown in Fig. 4. The cutter member 28 ispreferably provided with the knife edge 32 at the front section thereofand rounded on the rear section 33; said cutter member being securedtransversely with the casing member 10 in any suitable manner, as bymeans of the retaining screws 34, and preferably positioned in aninclined plane which is parallel with the closed position of the taplate 26. The tape plate 26 is prefera 1y fluted on the top surface, asindicated in Fig. 1, for effecting a guide and friction lane for thetape passing over same. T e casing member 10 is fur ther preferablydesigned with an opening at the front section 13 thereof and providedwith the trough runs 35 which support the wetting roller trough 36thereon, as shown in Fig. 2; the casing being provided with a stop-lug37 at the inner end, against which the wetting roller trough ispositioned in the casing and is retained therein by the locking-stud 38which permits the ready removal of the trough 36 from the front end ofthe casing, as may be required, for cleaning or refilling purposes. 39represents the tape wetting roller which is,cylindrically shaped androtatably supported in the trough 36 and allowed to depend therein sothat it is partially immersed in the moistening liquor L which issupplied in the trough. Said roller may be detachably secured to thetrough, or otherwise as may be desired, to permit the removal of thesame therefrom, and is preferably supported in the trough in a mannerthat will bring the top element E of the roller preferably above andappreciably in front of, the cutter or knife edge 32 of the cuttermember 28.

The roller 39 may be provided with the groove 40 which accommodates thetape de- .tth

at tape becomes moistened and conditioned to the top surface preciablepull nae flectin member 41 therein for deflecting the tape away from thewetting roll, as shown in Fig. 4 when coming into contact therewith anfor preventing the tape from sticking thereto. Said deflector member 41may be made of suitable width, preferably of a narrow dimension, and maybe made integral with the trough 36, if desired, or separate and rigidlysecured thereto in some suitable manner; it being understood, in thatregard, that a piece of wire projectinginto the groove may serve thepurpose.

42 represents a doctor or scraper member which is eferably angularlypositioned in the trough and 'hingedly supported at the end 43 thereofin some suitable manner and allowed to bear against the wetting roller39' on the end 44, as shown, for scraping the wetting roller and evenlyspreading the liquor carried thereon and for allowing the surplus todrain back into the trough. Said scraper member 42 frictionally bearsagainst the roller 39 with its own weight, and may be 'ermanently hingedto the trough or detac ably secured thereto to be removable therefrom,as shown in the drawing; the width of said scraper plate 42 beingpreferably made -the width of the trough for serving as a cover theretoto prevent splashing therein. a

In Fig. 2 the dotted line T indicates the tape bein unwound from thelower portion of the rol R, as would be the case when the gummed surfaceof the tape is wound on the outer side of the roll.

Having thus described the parts of the invention in detail, the mannerin which the same may be operated is as follows The tape-roll R is firstinserted in the well 18, in upright position, and the end T thereofisallowed to pass through the opening provided therefor between therounded section 23 and the end 25 of the cover-plate 20 with the gummedsurface down, the weight of said cover-plate bearing against ofthe tapeto yield a frictional tension against the tape at that point. The tape Tthus leaving the well opening, is laid across the tape plate 26, asshown in Fig. 1, with the gummed surface adjacent thereto and insertedbetween the knife member 28 and the tape plate 26, as shown in Figs. 1,2 and 4. Thetape plate being spring-held, as described, frictionallygrips the tape between it and the knife member 28, and holds the tapeunder suitable tension to require an ap-v thereon to permit thewithdrawal of same from the roll R in the device. The wetting roller 39may be made of lass, metal, or any other suitable materia according asmay be desired, and is supported in the -moistening liquor L so thatwhen thetapeis directed to it and is drawn over the same, the gummedsurface of the be ready for use as a packages, cartons and the like.With the tape thus set in the machine and the wetting sealing medium forroller trough 36 supplied with the wetting liquid and secured inoperating position in the casing member 10,.the machine is made readyfor operation.

To advance the tape beyond the knife edge 32 of the cutter presses downon the tape T against the tape plate 26, as shown in Fig. 4, andsimultaneously moves the tape downward along said plate 26. The pressingdown against the tape on the plate 26 opens the same to free the tapebetween it and the knife member 28, which, with the simultaneousdownward pull against the tape, advances the same onto the wettingroller 39, and the portion of tape so advancedprovides a hold for theoperator with which to withdraw as long a strip of tape from the machineas he may require; it being understood that the pull of the operator onthe tape will overcome the frictional grip thereagainst between theknife member 28 and the tape plate 26, and the'tape well outlet providedbetween the top portion 23 and the cover-plateend 25, and will force theroll R to turn in the well 18, whereby the roll is caused to unwindtherein.

The angular setting of the tape plate 26 with the position of the knifeedge 32 set behind the top element F, but in proximity with the topsection of the wetting roller 39, assures the direction of the tapeagainst the wetting roller in a manner which will force the tape intocontact with the roller and will cause the tape to hug the same, wherebythe entire gummed surface of the tape, passing the roller, will becomethoroughly moistened and ready for use. The aforesaid hugging featureprovides for thoroughly moistening the gummed surface of the tape, sinceit practically grinds the liquor on the roller into the tape andpenetrates the adhesive coating of the tape and conditions it to yieldbest results. The peculiar setting of said knife and tape plates in themachine, in relation with the top of the wetting roller thereof, isdesigned to provide a natural bump for the withdrawing tapeto pass over,whereby-the operators pull on the tape, for withdrawing the same fromthe frictionally rotates the wetting roller thereof and provides apositive contact 'between the gummed surface of the tape and the wettingroller,

coatin on the tape passin over it.

With g drawn from the machine, by the pull of the operator on the .tapeas described, the withdrawn portion of tape may then be severed fromthe" tape remaining in the machine at the knife ed e 32, as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, by raising-t e withdrawn tape against said member 28, theoperator r machine,

the desired length of tape thus with- I knife edge in tearing fashion,that is, by giving the withdrawn tape a tearing pull against the knifeedge. This will yleld a clean out edge to both the strip withdrawn from,and the end of the tape left in the machine, and leaves the tape in themachine set as indicated in Fig. 1, gripped between the knife plate 28and the tape plate 26, and the machine is again ready for operation.

It will be observed that the deflector member 41 will prevent the tapefrom winding about the wetting roller 39, and that the doctor 42 willprovide an even coating of liquid on said roller wetting surface andwill drain back into the trough any surplus liquor carried on saidroller.

It will also be observed that the machine may be designed to accommodatea range of different widths of tapes, from a narrow tape to one thewidth of the tape well, and that the centering planes 24 will tend, inany case, to provide a four-point suspension to the tape roll R, as maybe understood from a study of Figs. 2 and 9, particularly the latter. InFigs. 2 and 6 I have shown spacer plugs P which may be inserted in thetape roll hole on either side of the roll for centering the same in thedevice, if required, especially in connection withvery narrow rollsemployed in wide machines.

It will thus be noted that the device is simple in construction,requires little or no adjustment, and may be absolutely relied upon fordispensing and moistening gummed tapes of various widths, in any desiredlengths of strips, according as may be desired. The machine, asdisclosed, is free from complicated mechanism, is positively fool-proofand durable,-may be easily operated by any ordinary person, and providesa neat and compact device which makes it an attractive fixture in astore or shop.

While the preferred embodiments of my invention have been described indetail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theparticular construction set forth, since various changes in the form,material, proportions, and arrangement of parts, and in the details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention, or destroying any of the advantages contained inthe same, heretofore described and defined in the sub'oined claims.

aving thus described my invention in detail, what I claim as new is 1. Aummed tape dispensing and wetting device aving a wetting roller at thefront end thereof; a supply roll chamber at the rear end thereof adaptedto accommodate the tape roll therein and to permit the unwinding thereoftherein; and an intermediate combined and co-acting gripping and cuttingmechanism normally adapted to frictionally pass and direct the tape fromthe supply roll adjacently onto the top portion of said wetting rollerfor moistening pur poses and otherwise to grippingly lock the tape insaid mechanism during the cutting operation or while the device remainsidle.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a taperoll housin compartment provided with a tape ou et; a tape directingplate pivotally supported at said tape outlet of said supply compartmentand spring held against a flat coacting and fixed bar piece adapted tofrictionally abut the same for grippingly engaging the tape feeding fromthe supply therebetween, said bar piece having a knife edge providedthereon and located at a point rearward of the top element of, but inproximity with, the upper section of the hereinafter .men: tioned tapewetting roller; and a tape wetting roller pivotally mounted and adaptedto rotate in a trough supplied with water or liquid and lying in therange of the tape adapted to engage with the gummed surface thereof formoistening the same to impart an adhesive character thereto.

3. In a device of the character described, a tape housing compartmentadapted to receive the supply roll of gummed tape therein and providedwith means for retaining the same in upright position in thecompartment, and a contracting outlet for the tape adapted tofrictionally engage the tape therein; a wetting roller provided withmeans for surface coating the gummed surface of the tape with liquid formoistening same; and intermediate tape dispensing and cutting meansadapted to friqtionally engage the tape therein for directing it fromthe aforesaid compartment outlet to engage and hug the aforesaid wettingroller for moistening the gummed surface of the tape to render the sameready for use upon being severed from the roll when raised against saidcuttin .means.

' 4. In a evice of the character described, the combination of a casingmember havin a tape-roll-Well provided with a lid adapted tofrictionally engage with the tape withdrawn from the tape-roll in saidwell at the outlet section thereof; an intermediate angularly anddownwardly disposed yieldable clamping means provided with a stationarycutter edge at the extreme end thereof, and adapted to receive the tapecoming from the well outlet in exposed position therein and permittingit to frictio-nally pass therethrough, directing said tape on theheroinafter mentioned wetting roller initially at an angle other than aright angle with the vertical plane passing through the axis thereof;and a trou h member havin a wettin roller rotatably and transverse ysupportei l therein adapted to/ depend downwardly therein for dippinginto the liquid supplied same and to assume a position with the top 5.In a device of the character described,

the combination of a casin member having a tape-roll-well provided w1tha lid covering lift I wetting trough provided with a the same andadapted to form an opening with said casing for frictionally engagingthe tape withdrawn from the roll supplied insaid well, means fordetachably supporting a wetting trough in said caslng, and a transversecutting member an ported in said casing and rigidly secured thereto atthe tape delivery end thereof; a transverse tape Wetting rollerrotatably supported therein and positionedin respect to the said cuttingmember with the to element of said wettin roller forward-fan beyond thecutting e go of said cutting member for de-' 'flecting the tape over thetop section of said wetting roller; and an intermediate tape l'platehingedly. supported with saidcasing at till the 'well outlet thereof andinclined downwardl'y therefrom, terminating beneath said cutting memberand provided with ielding means for normally engaging the free end ofsaid plate with said cutter member for frictionally gripping'thetapeqheld thereon and passing therebetween.

6. In a device-of the character described, a casing memberhavingarelatively deep tape-roll-well at the rear end thereof adapted toreceive and retain the tape-roll therein 1n. upright manner Y andprovided with a cover plate at the top ,of said well with the front endofsaid plate set free with said casing to frictionally pass the free endof the tape from the roll therebetween, said casing having provision ofmeans at the front section thereof for detachably supporting a hill 'well outlet provided ter member for severing t wetting roller troughtherein; a wettin roller trough mechanism detachably secure and set insaid casing and provided with a roller member which is transverselyadapted to setat the front end'of said casing and below the tapedischarging outlet formed between said cover and the casing asaforesaid; and a yieldable and inclined tape directing and 1 ippingmeans positioned intermediate sai-l wetting roller and said ta eat thewetting roller end thereof with a stationa transverse cute tape at saidpoint, f'and a ,yieldable member coacting therewith, pivotally su portedat the ta ewell outlet and adapte to receive/there etween the tapefrom/said well outlet for detilt livering the same downwardly and ontothe upper ction of said a; roller for men 11 r p i tape therebetween,larly sup-' n cham lltll friction lid forming the outlet thereof for Ifrictionally engaging the dischargin tape passing, same; a quickreleasing tape direct mg and gripping member rovided with a fixed cuttermember at the ont end thereof forming a stop for said platen andcoactingtherewith in grippingly engaging the said platen havingyieldable supporting means adapted to frictionally engage said platenwith said cutter member; and a Wetting roller rotatably supported infront of said tape directing and gripping platen mechanism adapted toreceive and engage with the tape advanced therethrough for wetting thegummed sur face thereof to render the tape so advanced ready for usebefore being roll, the severing operation being efl'ected by bringingthe withdrawn tape into tearing contact with the said cutter memberprovided said platen mechanism 8. A device ofthe character described,

' comprising .a casing member having a taperoll chamber adapted to holdthe roll therein in upright positlon and to permit the unwinding thereofwhile positioned therein; a cover member fitting the aforesaid chamberand formin a tape outlet with the casing for the unwindin end of saidtape to pass through in open orm and under frictional tension; anangularly disposed directin and gripping member positioned in sai casinmember in proximity with said roll her outlet for receiving the tapeleading therefrom thereon to normally frictionally bind the same whilevpasisng over it, and otherwise to quickly permit the releassevered fromthe as aforesaid.

ing of the tape of said bindin feature for freeing the tape to-passfreely t said gripping member havin cutter element coacting wit late forefl'ecting the aforesaid attendin unctions, with said cutter elementadapts to be employed additionally for severing the tape at said pointwhen desired; and a wet erethrough', a stationary a yield tlng trou hmechanism carried in said casmg mem er and provided with a wetting rolor which is positioned with the top'element thereof forward and beyondthe on u v edge of the aforesaid cutter element for receiving the tapecoming therefrom thereupon for'mning the gued ace thereof.

9. A gued tape dispensing and moist: ening device, coinprisin a casinghav a .tape unwinding chamer adapted to receive and retain the supplyroll therein in upright position; awetting roller rotatably/ mounted insaid casing and adapted t W thb'tttlpe Withdraw fr'omsuid ll, j:

said casing chamber; a trough provided for said casing, adapted tosupply the roller with liquid for wetting the tape coming into contacttherewith; and an angularly disposed tape gripping means angularlypositioned intermediate said roll chamber and said wetting roller,inclining downwardly towards the latter and terminating substantiallyadjacent thereto and rear-- ward of the top element of said wettingroller, provided with a stationary cutter member having a knife edge atsaid terminating point thereof and a yieldable tape supporting platespring held against said stationary. cutter member and adapted tofrictionally grip the tape therebetween while being withdrawn from thesupply roll by the pull of the operator on the free end of the tape;said yieldable tape supporting plate being adapted further to releasethe ta e of any tension thereagainst and for ho ding the same. fastduring the cutting operation of the device, according as the case maybe, and said cutter member bein adapted to engage the withdrawn anmoistened tape for severing the same from the roll; the angular settingand position ing of said gripping means with said wetting rollerassuring of a positive contact of the gummed surface of the tapetherewith for moistening purposes.

10. In a device of the character described, a casing member having anunwinding roll chamber provided with an angularly disposed rollsupporting section at the bottom thereof adapted to yield a four-pointsupport to the roll for effecting an augmented frictional supporttherefor and for providing a self-centeringfeature to the roll supportedtherein.

11. A wetting roller tape guiding and directing device comprising anangularly positioned tape supporting plate hin edly supported at thereceiving end thereof and inclined downward towards the Wetting rollerwith which the same is associated;

a fixed abutting member positioned adjacently across and above said tapeplate at the delivery end thereof and adapted to form a stop for saidtape supporting plate to pass the tape therebetween; and yieldablesupporting means adapted to frictionally close said tape plate with saidabutting member for frictionally gripping the tape passing therebetween.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand this 6th day of April, 1920.

HENRY A. STONE.

Witnesses DAVID LIoH'rnNs'rEIN, R. LICHTENSTEIN.

